Summer Tour

New Zealand Listener, Volume 22, Issue 555, 10 February 1950, Page 19

Summer Tour

SHIRLEY WELCH (above), a Wellington pianist, who has returned to New Zealand after three years of study at the Royal College of Music in London, will be heard in a series of studio recitals from National stations during the next few weeks. Her first broadcasts will be from 2YA next week, at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14, 8.38p.m. on Thursday, February 16, and 8.28. | p.m. on Friday, February 17. She will broadcast in succeeding weeks from 2XG (on February 21 and 22), 2YZ (on February 26), and 1YA (on March 1, 3 anu 4). Her Wellington recitals will in--clude a chaconne (Bach-Busoni), and a_ Mozart sonata, while the Napier broadcast will consist of miscellaneous pieces. From Gisborne. she will play programmes of Chopin and Beethoven compositions, and her Auckland recitals will probably include a Beethoven sonata, and works by Brahms and Chopin. Shirley Welch went to London for three years on an Associated Board scholarship, and studied under Arthur Alexander. She gained her A.R.C.M. performer’s certificate, and was awarded the Pauer prize, the Herbert Fryer prize, and one of two medals given for piano playing each year. She was also chosen to play with the Royal College of Music| orchestra at one of their public concerts, and gave several concerts for the British Musi¢ movement, of which Freda Swain, the composer, is the organiser. She : gained experience in orchestral work, playing the viola in both the College orchestras. A fourth year at the College has been offered her as an extension of her scholarship, and she intends to return to London within 18 months. :